ABSTRACT

Transdermal patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver the drug through the skin in order to achieve systemic absorption of drug at a predetermined rate over a prolonged period of time. The amalgamation of polymer and pharmaceutical sciences led to the introduction of polymer in the design and development of drug delivery systems. Polymeric delivery systems are mainly intended to achieve controlled or sustained drug delivery. Polysaccharides fabricated into hydrophilic matrices remain popular biomaterials for controlled-release dosage forms and the most abundant naturally occurring biopolymer is cellulose; thus, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and ethyl cellulose (EC) can be used for production of controlled transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS). This paper assembles the current knowledge on the structure and chemistry of cellulose, and in the development of innovative cellulose esters and ethers for controlled release TDDS. In addition, bacterial cellulose applications through chemical modification as a new TDDS will be discussed.